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The Brave Practice of Releasing the Coffee Mugs

I guess you could say I have a penchant for coffee mugs.

I especially enjoy searching out mugs to buy as souvenirs when I travel. I suppose I'm compelled by the thought of being back home, holding a steaming mug of aromatic coffee while fondly remembering my traveling adventure.

And although I try to limit myself to just one mug per trip, that strategy doesn’t always work since I’ve lugged home three mugs from Rome, three from Paris, and just one from Milan.

{Mug-restraint goal achieved!}

In Rome last year, the apartment where I stayed had the cutest little mugs of all colors sitting beside a coffee canister on the kitchen counter.

I saw a colorful version of the cups at the Campo di Fiori market on my first day there but hesitated buying them since I thought I might find them elsewhere.

{And I try not to go too souvenir crazy on my first day since I never know what I might find later that I love even more.}

But I never saw any mugs similar to those at the market and I’ve regretted not buying them.

It's also possible that I get a little too preoccupied with coffee mugs.

Since I first read Leeana Tankersley’s books several years ago, I’ve felt a deep connection with her words. She writes what I'm often thinking about myself and gives me courage to celebrate and appreciate the unique qualities God created in me.

The book’s title is inspired by the line from St. Benedict, Always we begin again, and Leeana shows us that those words extend an invitation.

We can make the choice to open ourselves up rather than close off, shake loose instead of cling tightly, and live vulnerably instead of staying huddled safely in our corners.

When we drop our guard and release some of the things we hold so close to our hearts, we can engage in the possibility of walking into something new.

Those things we want to hold onto might not necessarily be harmful things, but they could be habits, patterns, routines, schedules or preferences that we use to avoid risk and protect ourselves.

And sometimes God is nudging us to dismantle them, and it's not always easy.

This is God's constant invitation to us. He begins on the inside of us with transformation.

And usually something has to die for something new to be born. But our willingness to stretch is what flings open the shutters to let a little illuminating light in.

In that allowing, we step into a place that is not yet.

Maybe reluctantly.

Maybe with the hardest of hearts,

but we leave space for the possibility

that something fluid and alive is on its way.

- Leeana Tankersley

A friend was over for coffee recently and as I came into the kitchen, I saw that he already had our mugs out of the cupboard, sitting on the counter.

I saw my favorite Paris mug — the one I love from Anthropologie with the whimsically painted street scenes from Paris -- there waiting for me.

Before I could stop myself, I grabbed it and said in a frostier tone than I intended, “This is my Saturday mug.”

Didn’t he know today was Thursday -- and clearly not Saturday -- therefore I could not drink out of my beloved Paris mug?

I opened the cabinet door to put it back on its shelf {where it rightly belonged until Saturday} when he said "Oh, umm, well, I already poured cream in it for you."

I rolled my eyes and huffed, “This is the mug I drink out of on Saturdays to celebrate the weekend. I cannot drink out of it today.”

Even as I said the words I realized how ridiculous they sounded. How could my irritation that my precious coffee mug ritual was being disrupted be more important than a kind gesture?

But it's always possible to begin again.

"Beginning again on this day means I will open up -- my clenched hands, my heart, my strategies, my life." - Leeana Tankersley

I apologized about the coffee mug and he gave me undeserved grace.

And I decided to drink out of my Paris mug that morning.

Even if it wasn't Saturday.

*******I was provided with a complimentary copy of the book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review, and my views are completely my own.*******I'm having coffee with my friends at Holley Gerth's place at Coffee for Your Heart.

Comments

I like the idea of collecting coffee cups as souvenirs of your travels! The book sounds great too- it is funny how we can have a tendency to cling at times to things that aren't the most important. It's definitely good to be open to when God is telling us to release those things.

Hi Lesley,At least mugs fit nicely in suitcases with clothing rolled around them to bring back home when I'm traveling! And I highly recommend this book -- it had so much food for thought, it was hard to narrow it down to just one thing I took away from it! xo

It is silly the things we set little rituals around and then get flustered when someone changes this. Oh yes! I can relate to this story about someone pulling out the Saturday coffee mug to use on a day other than Saturday. Laughing at myself here.

First time I have visited your blog. Glad I found it. Great name. Love your pictures.

That's such a pretty mug and Anthropology is one of my favourite browsing stores. Always so refreshing to visit here, Valerie. I've seen this book around the various platforms and appreciate your review and sharing what you gleaned from it. Avoiding risks by holding onto things to stop the wave of change is something a routine girl like me can fall into. the book is on my TBR list now! I hope your coffee tasted excellent in the mug even though it happened not be it's usual day!

Hi Lynn,I think you'd really like this book since it would appeal to your coach/counseling side with practical tips to move forward on your journey! So glad to hear you're a routine sort of girl, like me, and together maybe we can muster the courage to step out of them -- or maybe just step around them! :) xo

Those colorful mugs are so cheery-looking, Valerie. I love your other ones, too. And those beautiful roses are awesome. It's funny how out of control we instantly feel when our routines are disrupted, isn't it? I'm glad you chose kindness and beginning again. :) The book sounds great. This is so true - "And usually something has to die for something new to be born. But our willingness to stretch is what flings open the shutters to let a little illuminating light in." And yet so hard to do... Love and hugs to you!

Hi Trudy,Yes, I think the mug-ritual shows my control tendencies and getting bent out of shape when they're challenged is in itself a challenge! That's why I love the idea that we can give ourselves grace to begin again (along with apologies to those who disrupt our routines!) even though it's humbling! Those roses in the photo are from a lovely public garden that's nearby and I'm glad you liked them! xoxo

I am a mug snob. My mugs, my favorites, have a curved, flared edge around the rim so my lip snugs under the flair and therefore making the sip...DRIPLESS. If there is no flair then the coffee/tea will inevitably drip. None of your country mugs would work for me but see the tray with the BISTROT mugs? They would fare me well. Not quite as flared as I prefer but they would do in a pinch or a sip in this case. Love your photos and words!

Dear Valerie,My husband is an espresso "snob" :-) and those first little mugs would be just right for his Saturday morning ritual also! I love how you were able to receive and give grace when your rituals were upset. I'm that "corner-sitter" in your list of hard-heart choices. But what a precious Lord we have, who comes in and shatters all of our own notions, and washes us clean to begin again. (Oh, how many times I've need to begin all over with Him again!) This sounds like a lovely book to add to my wish list. Thank you for such a great review, and beautiful photos to go with it! Blessings, love and hugs to you! xoxo

Hi Bettie,That's so great that it's your husband with the Saturday espresso ritual! I do think you would like this book since Leeana can relate to our human failures but encourages us to keep at it and begin again -- over and over! She points out that it's okay to always be a work in progress! xoxo

Ok...so I am not the only coffee mug crazy lady out there. LOL! I knew I had to read your post because I'm in love with mugs and I definitely understand the whole "Saturday only" mug thing. Thanks for sharing over at coffee for your heart.

Hi Valerie- This sounds like a great book. I love seeing all your mugs too- I love the colorful ones and the Anthropologie one!( love that store!) How true it is that something must die for a new thing to take place. I don’t like that part. I am in a season of endings and beginnings and they hurt :( for a bit, but when the rain clouds part Jesus is so faithful to unveil something glorious and new and usually unthought of until that point. I am so thankful that the best is always ahead with Jesus and he always has more blessings. Grace upon grace he pours out his love in never-ending ways! I have a tea cup collection, and I like to have everyone choose their favorite cup for tea. I get the having the same cup on the same day thing too. I love routine and things being predictable.:) Thanks for this and all your beautiful thoughts! much love

Hi Susie,I'm glad you love Anthropologie too -- everything in there is so beautiful! :) I can imagine your season right now with your family is bittersweet but I feel if you let go, more will return to you (in new family members :)) than you could imagine. So glad you can relate with the tea cups -- there's just something about mugs and cups that is so comforting and fun at the same time! xoxo

I'm right there with you, buying all these mugs when traveling! I love that whenever I drink coffee out of them, I am reminded of the trip and the good times and great things I saw on that trip. And you are so right -- letting go of and releasing some things is sometimes the hardest thing to do. But I'm so thankful that we always have the possibility of beginning again. Thank you for this shared wisdom, friend!

V,I haven't read your blog lately, but I'm so glad I did today! You are my morning devotion of the day sweet sister! I love this post. You always have wise, honest words, and you also have the most divine photos! I have a dishes collection too. I LOVE them! Each holds a sentimental or beautiful place in my heart. We too have lots of mugs, and I pare them down annually but some HAVE to stay in the cupboards for use! I pray we all can be open to the "Begin Again" concept. This is SO hard for me, and as I age it is getting even harder for me to open up to new God paths and change that hurts. I pray daily in my little old brain to see what God has for me TODAY. One day at a time is all I can really do. I see the future too, but it is a Sharpee color away. I color my wall calendar and paper weekly planner. Cheers to tea/coffee time! I'm off to make my tea ASAP. Happy Thursday! Jenn Cook

Hi Jenn!So glad to see you here, old friend! Isn't it funny how dishes and cups can be so sentimental to us? I think they embody the good times shared around the table and using them again and again makes us feel happy! I hope things are going well for you and your family and the boys are well! So good to hear from you! xoxo

Oh, dear friend! I love the precious truths you share in this. I think the lines that resonated most with me were these, "When we drop our guard and release some of the things we hold so close to our hearts, we can engage in the possibility of walking into something new." This sounds like a wonderful book. And, your friend...well, he sounds like a wonderful guy. BIG smiles! Sending much love and many hugs to you tonight!

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